Border Mail |
WANGARATTA midfielder Daine Porter re-signed with the Pies on Friday night and wasted little time proving his worth with a best on ground performance in Saturday’s thrilling one-point win over Wodonga.
Porter, who extended his contract for next year, dominated in the midfield as the Pies hung on to record their fourth win of the season.
After trailing by four points at three-quarter-time, Wangaratta shot clear by 14 points in the early stages of the final term before being forced to endure plenty of nervous moments as the Bulldogs charged home to bring the deficit back to just two points.
Wodonga coach Ben Hollands missed a chance at goal on the run in the dying stages to put the Bulldogs in front, leaving the final margin at just the solitary point.
After a host of narrow early season losses, and a draw against Corowa-Rutherglen, Wangaratta coach Mark Knobel said it was about time a tight result fell their way.
“It was nice to be on the right side of it, for once,” Knobel said.
“We just managed to hold on.”
Knobel praised the performance and attitude of Porter, brother of his predecessor Judd.
“Daine really stood up,” Knobel said.
“He signed up for next year on Friday night, despite living in Melbourne and that really set the scene.
“He was outstanding in the midfield.
“Daine’s committed, as are all the boys, and now it’s just about working through that.
“Daine put his hand up.”
In a clash that had plenty of fiery moments, particularly in the second term, it was a few left-field moves from Knobel that proved instrumental in getting the Pies over the line.
James Wong, renowned as one of the league’s premier forwards, spent much of the game on a wing but still managed to finish with four goals.
Luke Mullins, meanwhile, picked up the slack in attack and finished with four of his own.
“We had to try something different,” Knobel said.
“We had 10 first choice players out and had 13 boys under 19.”
Matt Hedin starred on debut, reeling in a double-figure haul of marks and providing plenty of rebound out of defence alongside Matt Grossman and Ben Davies.
Josh Porter also proved effective at both ends of the ground.
